NYC cabbies don't have to know NYC geography

[bugo]

I walked from 86th to 36th (numbers approximate) in the rain. No need for a cab.

I rode in the back of a Nissan pickup from Ft Smith, AR to Mena, AR via Poteau, OK and Big Cedar, OK in a heavy downpour. Luckily I had my military field jacket with me.

[dgolub]

Yes, it is. The distance is a lot longer in Eastern Queens. Take it from someone who takes the crowded Q27 to get to the crowded IRT Flushing Line.

Longer still in the outer parts of Staten Island. The point in NYC farthest from the subway has got to be Tottenville in that borough. However, Staten Island has its own little transit system, so if you include that, then eastern Queens (probably Little Neck or Fort Totten) might still win, or perhaps the northwest corner of Staten Island (where few people live anyway). But of course, if you include SIRT you have to justify not including the LIRR, which does serve eastern Queens, as both systems are railroads proper and not rapid transit systems.

Well, you can use your MetroCard on Staten Island, but you need to purchase tickets for LIRR.

[Brandon]

I walked from 86th to 36th (numbers approximate) in the rain. No need for a cab.

In Manhattan distances, how far is that?  I know the blocks are a lot smaller there.  If it were Chicago, you'd have just walked 6.25 miles (8 blocks to the mile).

[jeffandnicole]

You can walk approximately 1 block per minute. Add in some time for waiting at intersections, congested sidewalks, etc.

[empirestate]

I walked from 86th to 36th (numbers approximate) in the rain. No need for a cab.

In Manhattan distances, how far is that?  I know the blocks are a lot smaller there.  If it were Chicago, you'd have just walked 6.25 miles (8 blocks to the mile).

Manhattan blocks are 20 to the mile, so 2.5 miles.


iPhone

[Kacie Jane]

But of course, if you include SIRT you have to justify not including the LIRR, which does serve eastern Queens, as both systems are railroads proper and not rapid transit systems.

Ummmm... Are you aware that SIRT stands for Staten Island Rapid Ttransit? (Although, it's proper name is actually the Staten Island Railway, operated by a division of the MTA called the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority.)

The Long Island Railroad is a "proper" railroad. The Staten Island Railway, while it operates along the right-of-way of a former "proper" railroad (as does the subway itself on some of the lines in the outer boroughs), is undoubtedly rapid transit.

[empirestate]

But of course, if you include SIRT you have to justify not including the LIRR, which does serve eastern Queens, as both systems are railroads proper and not rapid transit systems.

Ummmm... Are you aware that SIRT stands for Staten Island Rapid Ttransit? (Although, it's proper name is actually the Staten Island Railway, operated by a division of the MTA called the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority.)

Ummmm, yes; I'm not the sort of guy who would get as far as typing "SIRT" without having worked out what it stands for.

The Long Island Railroad is a "proper" railroad. The Staten Island Railway, while it operates along the right-of-way of a former "proper" railroad (as does the subway itself on some of the lines in the outer boroughs), is undoubtedly rapid transit.

To our eyes, of course. But you'll have to take it up with those who decide what a "proper" railway is; in particular the FRA, I suppose.

Now, it is true that, unlike PATH, the SIR has a waiver from the FRA so that it can operate like the rapid transit system it obviously is; and as I suggested one might wish to distinguish the LIRR from the SIR, citing this fact would have been a good way to do so. In that case, the question becomes "what residence in NYC is furthest from either the subway, or a railroad operating under an FRA waiver as a rapid transit system?"

[Duke87]

The Long Island Railroad is a "proper" railroad. The Staten Island Railway, while it operates along the right-of-way of a former "proper" railroad (as does the subway itself on some of the lines in the outer boroughs), is undoubtedly rapid transit.

To our eyes, of course. But you'll have to take it up with those who decide what a "proper" railway is; in particular the FRA, I suppose.

Now, it is true that, unlike PATH, the SIR has a waiver from the FRA so that it can operate like the rapid transit system it obviously is; and as I suggested one might wish to distinguish the LIRR from the SIR, citing this fact would have been a good way to do so. In that case, the question becomes "what residence in NYC is furthest from either the subway, or a railroad operating under an FRA waiver as a rapid transit system?"

If you include SIR you also have to include AirTrain JFK. Although that doesn't make a difference since even without Airtrain JFK the northwestern corner of Staten Island is still further from the enarest SIR stop than anywhere in eastern Queens is from the nearest subway stop.

But indeed, to the public SIR is a "subway" line. It runs R44 cars the same as some subway lines, and takes MetroCard rather than tickets. Although it did used to have conductors and tickets like LIRR and MNRR...

[Bickendan]

I walked from 86th to 36th (numbers approximate) in the rain. No need for a cab.

In Manhattan distances, how far is that?  I know the blocks are a lot smaller there.  If it were Chicago, you'd have just walked 6.25 miles (8 blocks to the mile).

Manhattan blocks are 20 to the mile, so 2.5 miles.

Going north-south, which happens to be the direction headed when going from 86th to 36th.

Portland's blocks are approximately 20 to the mile, with some minor variations (not counting the West Hill's grid disruptions). It's good enough to use as a reference, and the overall address grid is across the entire metro area and beyond.